Abell youngsters learn about slavery, prejudice

Published 6:00 pm, Saturday, February 23, 2008

Students in Melissa Crowell's English class at Abell Junior High started doing their research into slavery and prejudice during the Revolutionary and Civil wars even before Black History Month started.

By Ruth Campbell

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Editor's note: This story is part of a series celebrating Black History Month

Students in Melissa Crowell's English class at Abell Junior High started doing their research into slavery and prejudice during the Revolutionary and Civil wars even before Black History Month started.

February is the designated time for Black History Month, but her class started digging in December. Part of their efforts include reading historically-based novels and watching videos chronicling the stories of great leaders such as Harriet Tubman, who led slaves to freedom through the underground railroad, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

They have also learned about the civil rights movement in general and figures as different as Rosa Parks, the activist most famous for not giving up her bus seat and sparking the Montgomery, Ala., bus boycott, and civil rights leader Malcolm X.

They also read about Ida B. Wells, a black civil rights advocate and early women's rights proponent, and will finish up with Phyllis Wheatley, a poet born into slavery.

Youngsters also made booklets displayed around the classroom that feature pieces they found on prejudice and slavery and their thoughts on the matter. Students said it was interesting to learn about things they didn't know anything about.

J.D. Garza said before viewing a video on the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, he did not know how many thousands of people marched to Washington to demand their civil rights to equal treatment under the law.

In film footage, youngsters witnessed how those who stood up for their rights were beaten and hit with jets of water from hoses, which one student said took skin off.

They could tell from the expressions on some of the leaders' faces that they were scared, but one characteristic they shared is they "spoke their minds for the freedom of their people," 13-year-old eighth-grader Mena Coleman said.

One of Coleman's favorite heroines was Tubman.

"She was strong and she rescued 300 slaves," the 13-year-old eighth-grader said.

"She helped a lot of people. She wasn't selfish. She didn't care if she got beaten for helping another slave," fellow eighth-grader Stacie Wyman said.

Wyman also admires Parks for standing up for herself.

"Everyone looked up to her, too," she said.

Doing the research made Coleman and others realize their responsibilities.

"It makes us want to stand up for ourselves and stand up for others," she said.

If civil rights had not come to pass, Wyman, who is white, said she might not have many of her friends.

"A lot of my friends are black. Mena is practically my sister. If slavery hadn't ended, I wouldn't have them as friends," Wyman said.

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Ruth Campbell can be reached at ruth@mrt.com.

Lamar to host 'Makers of Black History'

Lamar Elementary School, 3200 Kessler Ave., will host a PTA program at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Second-graders will perform a play titled "Makers of Black History."

Sixth-graders are also participating in a black history essay contest sponsored by Chevron, their Partner In Education, a news release said.